The My location feature is very handy when you're lost and find a WIFI hotspot but it has one problem.

My Location likes to cache the previously used location somehow. When you move to a new location it often still shows the previous location. If I click on the little My Location circle above the little Street View man, it does not update. Clicking on Reload does not update it. Forcing a cache refresh with CTRL + F5 does not update it. Google Maps help page on the feature offers no hint or clue.

The only thing I've found that works is to use a different browser. My OS is Window 7, my usual browser is the current version of Google Chrome, 14.0.835.202 m and my backup browser is the current version of Opera.

But this is an ugly workaround since I'm using a netbook I'm oftlen low on memory or battery and starting a whole second browser users up more of both than just getting Google Maps to realize I've a moved a thousand kilometres should!

I tried to find other people complaining about this or reporting it as a bug but I haven't been able to find anything.

4 Answers
4

One way is to click the little circle above the Street View man's head. This forces it to detect your location, and Maps will ask you for permission to share your location. Assuming you accept, or have turned on auto-accept, it should then update your position to your new location.

The only time it seems to fail is when you're on a network that Google Maps can't recognize. But that seems fairly rare.

Hmm this is exactly what doesn't work for me. This is what causes it to just go back to the last location in its cache. Except sometimes when it does feel like updating to my new location. But it's unpredictable when it will work or not. At least on my OS & browser.
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hippietrailOct 18 '11 at 6:39

I don't have a GPS device. I only have a cheap netbook connected via WIFI. I think some tricky magick with IP databases or something might be used behind the scenes. My location certainly works without GPS, I just can't get it to update except when it occasionally is in the right mood.
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hippietrailOct 18 '11 at 14:08

Ah - I assumed you were on a mobile phone with GPS. When you go to maps.google.com, there's now an ability to correct the location in the left panel, which should be the primary feedback mechanism for Google to fix the location service.
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Joel HOct 21 '11 at 1:31

Where in the left panel? Do you mean the "My location" circle/dot above the street view man? As discussed that doesn't work most of the time.
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hippietrailOct 21 '11 at 15:57

No. The left panel is where search results appear on Google Maps.
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Joel HFeb 9 '12 at 5:41

I updated my location by going to Google Groups and then finding businesses near me and then there was a little box that said My location, and I clicked on that and it said not your location and clicked on that and then entered my address and it updated my location and to the address I gave it.

From How do I write a good answer?Any answer that gets the asker going in the right direction is helpful, but do try to mention any limitations, assumptions or simplifications in your answer. Brevity is acceptable, but fuller explanations are better.
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Rubén2 days ago